The Football Fever: Carpenter, Zwick recall National Signing Day

COLUMBUS -- National Signing Day always falls on the first Wednesday in February and we caught up with two former Buckeyes who recalled their memories leading up to that special day.

Justin Zwick was a celebrated five-star quarterback from Massillon, who committed 18 months before he signed on the dotted line. Ohio State was the only official visit for the 6-foot-4 quarterback who later battled Troy Smith for the starting job in Columbus.

"Signing day is a big day, a huge day," said Zwick. "It was an easy decision for me."

Zwick's older brother, Jared, played for head coach Jim Tressel at Youngstown State, so Justin had a relationship with Tressel as well. Tressel would spend 10 years at Ohio State from 2001 to 2010.

Lancaster linebacker Bobby Carpenter would play for Tressel as well, but had some early thoughts on a more southern destination.

"I took a visit to North Carolina and if you can imagine like 90 degrees on Dec. 1, I was ready to commit on the spot," Carpenter recalled. "But my Dad said let's hold off on that and take the other visits and a few trips later it was clear that Ohio State was going to be the best place for me."

Ohio State's current recruiting class is ranked 2nd nationally two days away from National Signing Day.